Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-01-21
Lower Cost Of Production.

The Pioneer Press is pleased to find
Its plea for better and more economi-
cal methods Of farming, repeated and
enforced by those most familiar with
the condition of the agricultural In
lerest. The following statement is
from the columns of the Farmer:
Not all farmers 90 into bankruptcy
at wheat raising, even at present
prices, and some actually make mon
ey with wheat al 30 cents bushel.
A "bull" on the Chicago board of
trade may be well posted and speak
within bounds of his own experience,
when lie states that wheat cannot be
produced for 40 cents per bushel IN
Dakota. However representative
OF the Farmer, few days ago, wish
ted large, model Dakota farm, the
Granding Bros, farm, at Mayville,
Trail county, where for better results
are obtained. w. w. Warren, Esq
general manager, courteopsly exhibit
ted some figures, which, without Civ
ing in detail, we may say amount TO
thisl that crop of something over
10000 bushels of wheat, averaging
nearly twenty-five bushels per acre,
costs, fom time of seeding until
stored in elevators (including infer
est on capital, wear on machinery,
wages, incidentals, etc y u little less
than a cents per bushel. While the
soil and location of this farm is excel
lent, we know of no special superiori-
ty of quality above good, average Red
River valley soil. The results are the
legitimate reward of business meth
DDS and thorough system, from
breaking to marketing.
The low price of wheat is, of course,
an unqualified misfortune. But, the
fact existing through circumstances
beyond anybody's control, the practi.-
cal question is, how TO make the best !
of it. If the farmer loses at one end |
Of the business, he must try to gain
at the other. If wheat has fallen in
the worlds markets, he must make
good the deficit by decreasing the
cost of production, The thing can
be done by increasing the Yield per
acre. In estimating cost of produc-
ton, the cost of labor in blowing,
seeding, harvesting, threshing and
per acre, are added to-
gether. the total is divided by the
average yield per acre, giving the Az
erage cost of production per bHsbel.
Now, it lie obvious, that, if the eXpen-
1iture on an acre is divided by thir-
teen, the average number Of bushels
raised 10 the acre, the resulting cost
Of production will be nearly twice as
great as if we were to divide by
.wenty. five, the number of bushels
Der acre which the rich soil of the
will easily yield under
borough cultivation. We desire to
make this argument fair, as well as
earnest. The cost of production Civ
N in the case cited by the Farmer
ess these Il cents per bushels be-
ow the average figure. 1t holds good
or large farming, where the product
8 10000 bushels, and where the
economies of conducting any business
N large scale and according TO the
Wholesale plan, can be brought into
LAY. But the saving is there, all
he same.
A close computation, made some
line ago, shows that the cost of wheat
production, by the old, wastetul sys-
EN-, is to the large farmer, from 40 to
0, and TO the small farmer from 80 to
0 cents per bushel. This is on the
asis ofan average yield of not more
han fifteen bushels per acre. Now,
That do we find? The large farmer,
y adopting the careful methods in
sc in older aud more economical
ommurities, by thorough cultiva-
on and summer following, can raise
is average crop to twenty-five BUSH
Is per acre. The cost of raising the
reater amount being about the same
8 that of the less, il follows that, for
i'm, the cost of production is reduced
early One-half. That margin is
lear profit. The small farmer can
o the same thing. BY better cult
alton, he can, at little, il any great
Expense, secure, the same yield of =
twenty-five bushels per acre. That q
ould lower the cost of production ~
him from between so and 60. to 10
etween 30 and 40 cents per bushel. e.
here would be very comfortable
'ofit in that, even with wheat at :
wer prices than it has reached, or |
likely to reach. We desire for the !
rmer of the Northwest every ad-
lntage possible. We hope that he
ay have lower taxes, and railroad IL,
eight rates as reasonable as are any bn
here known. But, with all these, "a
must still work out his own saliva an
On. lie must cease TO use his land
he uses expensive farm machinery lie
hich usually becomes worthless :
Ter a few years, by reason of lack L
ordinary care. lie must appro- II
late the millions that are offered 7
m in profit, by reducing the cost of hl
ltivation, merely as a premium
lOn carpful intnlIi0aut economical -